BBC World Service Trust Manipulates Radio Show for NRA
Listeners say of thought reads disappointment past Friday shortly after it was observed that the moderator of regular BBC World Service Trust Radio show,, unprofessionally handled contextual issues relevant to GST (Goods and Services Tax).
It must be noted however that the introduction of tax GST apparently questioned fundamentals surrounding development and the effect it has to the economy of Sierra Leone generally.
According to Alimamy Turay, a regular listener of the BBC World Service Trust Radio programme, he confessed not having the understanding of what was the essence of the discussion.
“Please tell something on Accountability of the NRA, the economic effect of GST Tax, collection procedure,” Alimamy asked.
It was observed that a representative from the Financial Times newspaper, Ezekiel Durameny-Lakoh, was looking at more technical issues bordering on tax; identifying and trying to discuss areas where tax policy is key to the economy.
Mr. Hassan Omelaja, a representative from NRA was completely off the track, and was acting as a Public Relations Officer for President Koroma and his agenda for change proclamation.
He was continually seen as praise singing the Commissioner General of the NRA.
Discussions on tax, unlike other areas, require sober and head fixed professionals better inclined to financial issues.
It is evidently clear that Sierra Leone is still not forging ahead owing to the selfishness of persons assigned to state responsibilities; food finders and not national planners.
Full details to follow.
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Abibatu Koroma
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Please permit me space to respond to this article by your online review on the BBC’s manipulation talk show hosting the NRA.Firstly,I am the presenter of that show and judging from the two guests I realised that the programme was not balanced as Ezekiel could not elaborate on the issues he mere said he was an Accontant and not an Economist meaning he could not go into the details of the GST.He made mentioned that if he had anything to say contrary would be the Ministry of Finance as they are responsible for the revenue collected to be placed in the Consolidated Revenue Fund.Ezekiel was also not too knowledgeable on the issue and loose interest in the programme whilst it was on.He was scrambling on a paper like what seems to be a sketch and when he had the opportunity to enegage the NRA he would merely respond flimsyly.Secondly at the BBC we strive to be objective at the highest degree which is why we normally have an editorial policy to comment on the programme and bring in any challenges.We realised that the programme was not balanced and Ezekiel let Hassan Omolaja of the NRA got away with his ramblings about his boss and the President,we decided to have a repeat of the same topic and with different guests.One was from the NRA itself Alfred Akibo Betts and Saidu Bah an award winning journalist from the Awoko Newspaper.The programme was well discussed for the second time and balanced according to the feedback we had.
10th March 2011